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Update from MNHQ - Name changes

91 replies

AmeliaPMumsnet · 21/02/2023 09:23

Hi all,

We recently received some helpful feedback from Mumsnetters about name changes. Some users have mentioned finding it frustrating having to remember to change their username to match the one that they’ve already posted under on a thread. We understand why that’s annoying, and why it might cause some confusion if yourself or other users have switched usernames mid-way through a thread accidentally.

We’ve just released some changes to the site (not in the mobile apps) to help combat this. From now on, if you start or reply to a thread, we’ll automatically set your username to the one you used first on that thread. This means that you won’t need to remember to change your username or go looking to find out which one you posted under before.

Here’s is an example of how it’ll work:

  1. I start a thread with my current username, which is “username1”
  2. I then decide to change my username in my settings to “username2"
  3. I revisit the thread I started under “username1”. My username will be set to “username1" by default in the reply box (I can still edit this username if I’d like to)
  4. If I go to a thread that I haven’t started or posted on yet, my default username will be my current username, “username2”

We hope you find this helpful and we’d love to hear your feedback!

OP posts:
ProtectorExtraordinaryOfTheCantonsOfNim · 21/02/2023 09:49

MN will have the actual figures on whether or not most users use the app (I would guess most use it in the browser on a mobile, but I have no more basis for thinking that than you do for thinking the app is more popular).

mybunniesandme · 21/02/2023 09:41

@AmeliaPMumsnet

Thanks but my point is more that I would think most users use the app so why not concentrate on updating that first?

Utilitaparking · 21/02/2023 09:38

Is there any plan to bring this to the app?

I only use the app and I'm forever forgetting to name change so this would be useful!

BliainNua · 21/02/2023 09:38

It's working like this on mobile site, I don't use the app.

Ceryneianhind · 21/02/2023 09:37

although can you overwrite this? hopefully not, as this way you could stop some sock puppeting

Ceryneianhind · 21/02/2023 09:36

I think this is BRILLIANT!!!

TinpotNostradamus · 21/02/2023 09:36

This sounds like an excellent update. Thanks

AmeliaPMumsnet · 21/02/2023 09:35

Hi @mybunniesandme and @AWaferThinMint,

We've made this change on our website, so it'll take effect any time you access Mumsnet from a browser, like Safari or Chrome, on either a desktop or mobile device. It hasn't been implemented in the mobile Talk app. Sorry for any confusion caused there!

OP posts:
BliainNua · 21/02/2023 09:35

Sounds like a good thing, like everything though... You can't please all of the people all of the time!

ErrolTheDragon · 21/02/2023 09:34

Sounds like how it should have been designed in the first place.

AWaferThinMint · 21/02/2023 09:30

Why no update on mobile site. A large number of us only use mobile. The list of things you don't include for mobile is growing!

MangoBiscuit · 21/02/2023 09:29

*sounds!

MangoBiscuit · 21/02/2023 09:29

I think that sends very sensible.

TodaysFishIsTroutALaCreme · 21/02/2023 09:28

This is excellent. Dawn kindly sorted a NN fail for me yesterday where my OP was in a different name but when I posted subsequently, it reverted to my usual NN. Hopefully this will stop me from doing that again

mybunniesandme · 21/02/2023 09:28

Great but I would think 99% of users use the mobile site?

Saisong · 21/02/2023 09:26

I don't think you'll ever please everyone MNHQ. But this seems like a reasonable stab at compromise.

It might even trip up a few sock puppets.